Coleus plant named ‘MD CURPGF06 ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Coleus  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by deeply lobed, undulating leaves, a wide mix of colors including light coral and bright green, a compact growth habit and short internodes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Solenostemon scutellarioides.

Variety denomination: ‘MD CURPGF06’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘MD CURLL06’ was discovered as a naturally occurringwhole plant mutation of the parent Coleus plant variety ‘Bienvenue’ (notpatented). The new cultivar was discovered in May 2002 as a single plantin a cultivated area of Glienicke, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MD CURLL06’ by terminalcuttings was first performed in 2002 in Oxnard, Calif. and has shownthat the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproducedtrue to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MD CURPGF06’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MD CURPGF06.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MD CURPGF06’ as a new and distinct Coleuscultivar:

-   -   1. Deeply lobed, undulating leaves;    -   2. Wide mix of colors per leaf;    -   3. Compact growth habit; and    -   4. Short internodes.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MD CURPGF06’ are similar to plants of theparent variety, ‘Bienvenue,’ in most horticultural characteristics;however plants of the new cultivar ‘MD CURPGF06’ are much shorter thanthe parent variety. Also, the leaves of the parent are longer than thenew variety. Finally, the foliage of the parent variety was red brown,with yellow-green margins and irregular brown patches on the middle ribwhile the foliage of ‘MD CURPGF06’ is pink with patches of pale yellowand a darker green margin.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Super Ducks Foot’(not patented), ‘MD CURPGF06’ has more deeply lobed and undulatingfoliage. Also, ‘MD CURPGF06’ has coral pink colored foliage with a thinbright green margin compared to the foliage of ‘Super Ducks Foot’ withits bronze red color and wide yellow margin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘MD CURPGF06’ grown in a four-inch pot. One cutting was used in the pot,planted mid December and grown in a greenhouse. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures were about 25° C., night temperatures wereabout 12° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 6,000 footcandles.The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe 11 week old ‘MD CURPGF06’ plants grown inOxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of December throughFebruary. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at nightto 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical coleus plants.

-   Botanical classification: Coleus cultivar ‘MD CURPGF06.’-   Commercial classification: Coleus.

PROPAGATION

-   Type cutting: Terminal cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: 4 days with 18° C.-   Time to develop roots: 6 to 8 days with 16° C. to 18° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous, white in color.-   Rooting habit: Freely branching.

PLANT

-   Form: Annual potted or garden plant.-   Growth habit: Low and outwardly spreading plant habit.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Plant height: About 11.5 cm.-   Plant diameter: About 17 cm.-   Branching habit: Freely branching with about six lateral branches    per plant.-   Length of lateral branches: About 5 cm.-   Diameter: About 0.4 cm.-   Internode length: About 1.2 cm.-   Strength: Strong.-   Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading.-   Shape, in cross-section: Squarish.-   Texture: Lightly pubescent.-   Color: Near Green 143C.

FOLIAGE

-   Arrangement: Opposite; simple.-   Length: About 4.7 cm.-   Width: About 4.6 cm.-   Shape: Ovate.-   Apex: Broadly acute.-   Base: Truncate.-   Margin: Crenate.-   Texture:    -   -   Upper surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Lower surface.—Lightly pubescent.-   Venation pattern: Pinnate; netted.-   Color:    -   -   Developing foliage on the upper surface.—Towards the            margins: Near Yellow-Green 144A. Towards the center: Near            Greyed-Orange 173B. Center: Near Greyed-Orange 173A. Towards            the base: Near Greyed-Orange 173B. Venation: Near            Greyed-Orange 173B.        -   Developing foliage on the lower surface.—Towards the            margins: Near Green 143A. Towards the center: Near            Yellow-Orange 18B. Center: Near Yellow-Orange 18B. Towards            the base: Near Green-Yellow 1C. Venation: Near Green-Yellow            1C.        -   Fully expanded foliage on the upper surface.—Towards the            margins: Near Green 143A. Towards the center: Near            Greyed-Red 181B. Center: Near Greyed-Purple 184A. Towards            the base: Near Greyed-Orange 173A. Venation: Near            Greyed-Purple 181B.        -   Fully expanded foliage on the lower surface.—Towards the            margins: Near Green 143B. Towards the center: Near            Yellow-Orange 18C. Center: Near Yellow-Orange 18C. Towards            the base: Near Yellow-Orange 18C. Venation: Near            Green-Yellow 1D.-   Petiole length: About 1.7 cm.-   Petiole diameter: About 0.2 cm.-   Petiole color:    -   -   Towards the apex.—Near Green-Yellow 1D.        -   Towards the base.—Near Green-Yellow 1D.-   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Plants of the new Coleus have been    observed to have no drought tolerance and do not produce at a    temperature lower than 8° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant named ‘MD CURPGF06’ asherein illustrated and described.